London | Reuters — The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) will need to raise US$6.8 billion over the next six months to avert famine amid the COVID-19 crisis, the agency said on Tuesday. The WFP, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last week for its efforts to prevent the use of hunger as […] Read more
World Food Program seeking billions within six months to avert famine
Pandemic may double hunger worldwide, agency says
Pulse weekly outlook: Tight supplies push up green lentil prices
Summer exports 'unusually good'
MarketsFarm — Prices for green lentils in Western Canada have been on the upswing, with Lairds rising by between six and 12 cents/lb. “The summer exports were unusually good and are going fairly well right now,” said Marlene Boersch of Mercantile Consulting Venture Inc. in Winnipeg. “People are realizing overall green lentil supplies, primarily in […] Read more
Becel maker Upfield to relocate Ontario plant
Company to make vegan cheese substitutes, other spreads at Brantford
The maker of Becel margarine, Imperial spreads and, most recently, vegan near-cheese Violife plans to boost its Canadian manufacturing capacity with a move from Toronto to Brantford, Ont. The Canadian arm of Amsterdam-based Upfield said Wednesday it has bought a 164,000-square foot industrial building at Brantford and “brings a significant investment involving the purchase of […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Above-average year for yellow, green peas
MarketsFarm — It was a pretty good year for yellow and green peas, according to Allan Johnston of Johnston Grains at Welwyn, Sask. “The weather was so good and the harvest was so good. Everybody got their crops off in excellent shape,” he said. The most recent weekly crop reports from Manitoba and Saskatchewan indicated […] Read more
CN, CP set third-quarter records for grain movement
MarketsFarm — Canada’s big two railways again reported moving record amounts of Canadian grain during the third quarter of 2020. Canadian National Railway (CN) reported Monday it had shipped 7.76 million tonnes of grain by rail, and Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) said Friday it had moved 7.72 million tonnes. For CN that not only marked […] Read more
Federal irrigation pledge seen flowing mainly to Prairies
Infrastructure plan also includes promised broadband support
Prairie provinces will receive the bulk of Ottawa’s $1.5 billion commitment to support irrigation projects, according to federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday launched a three-year, $10 billion infrastructure plan aimed at five different sectors, including agriculture. The $1.5 billion is expected to result in 700,000 acres of irrigated land. […] Read more
Food retail order boom may ease after big quarter, Conagra says
Reuters — Conagra Brands put better-than-expected first quarter sales on Thursday down to heavy ordering by retailers worried about the durability of supply chains in the months ahead as a second wave of coronavirus cases takes hold. Shares in the foodstuffs maker dipped as much as three per cent before recovering after chief financial officer […] Read more
Bayer plans more cost cuts, impairment charges
Pandemic now expected to hit crop science wing
Berlin | Reuters — German drugs and chemical company Bayer announced plans on Wednesday for more than 1.5 billion euros (C$2.34 billion) of cost cuts as of 2024 and said it would take impairment charges on its agricultural business as it battles with low commodity prices. Bayer said that the impact of the coronavirus on […] Read more
Plant-based protein maker Roquette sees short-term COVID-19 impact
Demand could accelerate second Canadian plant
Paris | Reuters — The plant-based protein market has seen a slowdown in new product launches and lower sales in restaurants and cafeterias due to COVID-19 but benefited from more people cooking at home and trying new products, French manufacturer Roquette said. The market for plant-based protein such as meat-free burgers has surged in the […] Read more
USDA data show tighter U.S. grain, oilseed stocks
MarketsFarm — Quarterly stocks data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture showed tighter-than-expected supplies of soybeans, corn, and wheat in the country. Soybean stocks, as of Sept. 1, 2020, were pegged at 523 million bushels, which was down by 42 per cent from the previous year and below average trade estimates. Corn stocks were below […] Read more
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